Picture-frame.



E.. OLDENBUSOH.

PICTURE FRAME. APPLICATION FILED 111m: 22, 1909.

9433367. Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

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ERNEST OLDENBUSCH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

morons-FRAME.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNnsr OLDENBUSCH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Picture-Frame, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in picture frames, and more particularly to that type of frame commonly known in the art as a shadow box. The frame is adapted to hold any form of picture, plaque, photograph, medallion, etching or the like, and is so constructed that the picture is spaced at a considerable distance back of the glass.

In my improved frame or folder, I provide two separate backs or back members independently connected to the frame proper, one of said hacks serving to support the picture and the other of said backs concealing the picture support, and provide means for supporting the entire device.

The invention also involves certain details of construction, whereby the parts are detachably held together, and also certain de tails of the frame-supporting means.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, and in which- Figure 1 is a face view of a picture frame constructed in accordance with my invention Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof; Fig. 3 is a cen tral vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a section similar to a portion of Fig. 3 but on an enlarged scale.

In my improved form I employ a frame proper 10, of any suitable form, for instance, oval, round, square or rectangular, and constructed of any suitable material. Preferably, the frame is formed of a strip of sheet metal having its ends secured together and bent to substantially T-shaped in cross section. The strip presents a face portion 11, which may be ornamented, if desired, and the outer edge of this face portion is bent back upon itself to form an outer annular bead 12. Intermediate the edges of the face portion 11 the strip extends rearwardly to form an annular flange 13 at an angle to the plane of the facing portion 11. Considering this frame proper as being T- shaped in cross section, the strip 11 consti- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 22, 1909.

Patented Dec. 1%, 1909.

Serial No. 503,606.

tutes the head of the T and the rea-rwardlyextending flange 13 constitutes the leg of the T. lVithin this frame proper is first placed the glass lfl: or sheet of other suitable transparent material. The sheet is of substantially the same form as the frame and fits into the rear thereof inside of the flange 13 and rests against the inner edge of the face portion 11 of the frame proper. The glass may be fiat or convex, but preferably the latter to give the desired effect upon the picture. To the frame proper is next se cured an inner back 15, preferably concave in form and having its outer peripheral edge constituting a flange 16 in engagement with the rear surface of the glass adjacent the periphery of the latter. The diameter of the back is substantially the same as that of the glass and the back fits inside of the flange 13. To secure the back in position, the flange 13 is provided with a plurality of pairs of slits or cuts, each pair forming between the two outs thereof, a tongue 17 which may be bent inwardly to engage with the rear surface of the marginal flange 16 of the back 15. hese tongues lock the glass and the back 15 to the frame proper 10 and may be of such length that they engage with the curved portion of the back 15 and prevent any lateral movement of the latter due to inaccurate workmanship.

The back 15 is provided with a central aperture bordered by an inner frame member 18. This inner frame may be formed of a strip of metal identical with the strip going to make up the outer frame. That is, it is substantially T-shaped in cross section and includes a facing strip 19 and a rearwardly-extending flange 20. The flange extends rearwardly through the opening in the back 15, so that the outer edge of the facing strip 19 rests against the inner surface of the back. For retaining the inner frame in position, it may be provided with a series of tongues 21, similar to the tongues 17, except that they are bent outwardly and contact with the outer surface of the back. The picture 22 is secured to the inner frame proper and is preferably cut so that it will fit into the flange and rest against the rear surface of the facing strip 19. The picture is held in place by a cover or closure 23, formed of sheet metal with a marginal flange 24L fitting into the flange 20. To accommodate pictures of different thicknesses or to accommodate medallions or miniatures,

the cover or closure 23 may contain one or more removable layers 25 of cardboard or other filling material.

The second or outer back is secured to the frame proper independently of the back 15, which carries the picture. This outer back 26 is convex and is provided with a peripheral substantially cylindrical flange 27, adapted to frictionally engage the outer surface of the flange 13 and conceal the latter from view, as well as retain the back 26 in position. It will be noted that the two backs are independent of each other and are independently secured to the frame proper. The back 26 conceals the rear surface of the back 15 from view, as well as the securing means for the picture. The outer back 26 is provided with suitable means whereby the frame may be supported either upon a vertical wall or upon a horizontal table or shelf.

The means for supporting the frame from a wall includes a sheet metal plate 28 disposed upon the inner surface of the back 26 and having its terminal portions 29 and 30 extending through slots in the back. One of these terminal portions 29 is bent back into engagement with the rear surface of the back 26, so as to readily and firmly secure the plate 28 to said back, while the other terminal portion 30 extends outwardly from the back and is provided with an aperture to receive a hook or other suitable support.

The means employed for supporting the frame upon a horizontal surface after the fashion of an easel, includes a rod 31 bent to present a base port-ion or legs 32 and having its terminal ends pivotally secured to the back 26. The means for pivotally securing said.ends in place includes a plate.

33 lying adjacent the rear surface of the back and having its upper terminal portion 34 extending through a slot in the back and bent into engagement with the inner surface of said back. The lower portion of the plate is bent to form three separate flanges or tongues 35, 36 and 37. The two outer of these flanges or tongues 35 and 37, are curved to form sleeves or loops to receive the outwardly-extending terminal portions 38 of the rod, while the intermediate flange or tongue 36 is bent rearwardly at an angle to the plane of the frame, to serve as means for limiting the swinging movement of the supporting rod 31 in respect to the frame.

lVhen it is desired to replace the picture in the frame, or to adjust it, no tools or instruments of any kind are required. It is only necessary to remove the back 26, which has frictional engagement with the frame proper, and then to remove the cover or closure 23, which has frictional engagement within the flange 20. It is never necessary to remove the inner back from the frame proper, save to replace the glass, and it is practically never necessary to remove the inner frame 13.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A frame for pictures or the like, consisting of a frame proper formed of sheet metal and substantially T-shaped in cross section, the leg of said T constituting a rearwardly-extending flange, a glass front, and an inner back carried by said frame proper and secured to the latter upon the inner side of said flange, an outer back secured to said frame proper upon the outer side of said flange.

2. A frame for pictures or the like, comprising a frame proper formed of sheet metal substantially T-shaped in cross section, the leg of said T constituting a rearwardlyextending flange, a glass front fitting within said rearwardly-extending flange, an inner back having its peripheral portion in engagement with the rear side of the peripheral portion of said glass front and fitting within said flange, portions of said flange being bent into engagement with said inner back to retain the latter in position, and an outer back spaced from said inner back and independent thereof, and fitting friction tight in engagement with the outer surface of said flange, concealing the latter from view.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST OLDENBUSCH.

Witnesses CLAIR W. FAIRBANK, PHILIP D. ROLLHAUS. 

